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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
November 17, 1911
Died
December 2, 1976
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Also Known As
- Bill Tannan
- Billy Tannen
- Bill Tannen
- William J. Tannen
- Bill Tanmen
William Tannen
0.3 Popularity
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Tannen (November 17, 1911 – December 2, 1976) was an American actor originally from New York City, who was best known for his role of Deputy Hal Norton in fifty-six episodes from 1956 to 1958 of the ABC/Desilu western television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian as Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp. Tannen was also cast as Gyp Clements in the 1955 episode "The Buntline Special" of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Beginning on September 11, 1956, in the second season of the series, with the setting moved from Wichita to Dodge City, Kansas, Tannen filled the Hal Norton role. His earliest episodes were "Fight or Run", "The Double Life of Dora Hand" and "Clay Allison", the latter two based on historical figures, the saloon singer and actor Dora Hand and the gunfighter Clay Allison. Some of his appearances were uncredited. His last credited role was "Doc Holliday Rewrites History" (May 6, 1958), with Myron Healey as the frontier gunfighter and dentist Doc Holliday. His last uncredited roles aired thereafter in May and June 1958, "Dig a Grave for Ben Thompson", based on the historical figure Ben Thompson played by Denver Pyle, "Frame-up", and "My Husband". He was cast as Ike Clanton, not on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, but in the 1964 episode "After the OK Corral" of the syndicated western anthology series, Death Valley Days. Jim Davis portrayed Wyatt Earp in this particular episode. Tannen appeared twice, one role uncredited in Davis' earlier syndicated western series, Stories of the Century, including the role of Dutch Charlie in "Milt Sharp", the story of the stagecoach robber Milt Sharp.
Known For
5.3
Civil Engineer
Hero and the Terror
1988
6.7
Workman #2
Here's Lucy
1968
6.4
American Delegate (uncredited)
Batman
1966
6.3
The Quick Gun
1964
6.4
Bartender
The Virginian
1962
6.0
Ben Tracy
Gunslinger
1961
5.3
Willetts
Noose for a Gunman
1960
5.5
Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)
The Return of Dracula
1958
7.8
Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
Touch of Evil
1958
6.2
Dr. Buell
Tombstone Territory
1957
Credits
Hero and the Terror
as Civil Engineer
1988
5.3
Here's Lucy
as Workman #2
1968
6.7
Batman
as American Delegate (uncredited)
1966
6.4
The Quick Gun
1964
6.3
The Virginian
as Bartender
1962
6.4
Gunslinger
as Ben Tracy
1961
6.0
Noose for a Gunman
as Willetts
1960
5.3
The Return of Dracula
as Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)
1958
5.5
Touch of Evil
as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
1958
7.8
Tombstone Territory
as Dr. Buell
1957
6.2
The Tijuana Story
1957
4.0
Perry Mason
as Police Sergeant
1957
7.7
Perry Mason
as Frank - Studio Guard
1957
7.7
Perry Mason
as Lt. Cmdr. Matt Stewart
1957
7.7
A Hatful of Rain
as Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)
1957
6.8
Gun Duel in Durango
as Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)
1957
5.4
Tales of Wells Fargo
as Keenan
1957
6.9
Friendly Persuasion
as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
1956
6.7
🎬
Hey, Jeannie!
as Paul Revere
1956
6.0
The First Texan
as President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)
1956
6.3
Blackjack Ketchum Desperado
as Dee Havalik
1956
6.5
Devil Goddess
as Nels Comstock
1955
5.5
The Adventures of Champion
as Rustler
1955
5.3
The Adventures of Champion
as Logan
1955
5.3
Gunsmoke
as John Hirschbeck
1955
6.6
Gunsmoke
as Townsman
1955
6.6
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
6.8
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
as Deputy Hal Norton
1955
6.8
Dial Red O
as Devon
1955
5.3
Sitting Bull
as O'Connor
1954
5.2
The Law vs. Billy the Kid
as Dave Rudabaugh
1954
4.0
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
as Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)
1954
5.4
Jesse James vs. the Daltons
as Emmett Dalton
1954
5.5
The Golden Idol
as Sergeant Reed
1954
4.2
Kiss Me Kate
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1953
6.4
El Paso Stampede
as Henchman Joe
1953
5.0
99 River Street
as Director
1953
6.8
I, the Jury
1953
5.7
Dangerous Crossing
as Ship's Officer (uncredited)
1953
6.2
🎬
Eyes of the Jungle
as Jeff Roper
1953
0.0
Raiders of the Seven Seas
as Ramon
1953
5.7
Law and Order
as Stranger (uncredited)
1953
5.3
Jack McCall, Desperado
as Spargo
1953
5.7
The Bad and the Beautiful
as Reporter (uncredited)
1952
7.3
Flat Top
as Commander (uncredited)
1952
4.2
Talk About a Stranger
as Driggs
1952
6.0
Road Agent
as Toll Gate Guard
1952
5.5
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land
as 'Doc' Edwards
1952
5.3
Dangerous Assignment
1952
3.5
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
5.3
The Adventures of Kit Carson
as Spade Bineham
1951
5.3
Best of the Badmen
as Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)
1951
6.5
Roaring City
as Ed Gannon
1951
4.6
I Was an American Spy
as American Captain (uncredited)
1951
6.2
Insurance Investigator
as 1st Hood
1951
5.0
A Yank in Korea
as Lt. Lewis
1951
0.0
Blue Blood
as Sparks
1951
0.0
The Flying Missile
as Lieutenant
1950
4.9
Pygmy Island
as Kruger
1950
4.0
Chain Gang
as Harry Cleaver
1950
6.7
Three Secrets
as Bobby Lynch (uncredited)
1950
6.4
Sunset in the West
as John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)
1950
7.5
Pal, Canine Detective
1950
0.0
🎬
The Cisco Kid
as Bix Douglas
1950
5.9
Convicted
as Prison Guard (uncredited)
1950
6.0
Armored Car Robbery
as Officer Johnson (uncredited)
1950
6.5
Annie Get Your Gun
as Barker (uncredited)
1950
6.7
Riders of the Range
as Trump Dixon
1950
6.0
All the King's Men
as Man in City Bar (uncredited)
1949
7.0
Abandoned
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1949
6.2
The Mysterious Desperado
as Bart Barton
1949
4.0
Alaska Patrol
as Dajek
1949
0.0
The Three Musketeers
as Traveler (uncredited)
1948
6.7
An Innocent Affair
as Gaylord
1948
3.8
Walk a Crooked Mile
as FBI Chemist
1948
6.0
Cynthia
as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)
1947
5.9
High Barbaree
as Officer of the Deck (uncredited)
1947
5.1
Our Old Car
as Officer Donahue (uncredited)
1946
4.0
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
as Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)
1945
5.6
Week-End at the Waldorf
as Photographer (uncredited)
1945
6.0
A Gun in His Hand
as Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)
1945
5.8
Main Street After Dark
as Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)
1945
4.0
The Great Morgan
as Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)
1945
5.5
Dark Shadows
as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)
1944
9.1
Maisie Goes to Reno
as Lead Man (Uncredited)
1944
6.2
The Canterville Ghost
as Jordan
1944
6.7
Main Street Today
as Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
1944
6.2
For God and Country
as Captain
1943
0.0
Presenting Lily Mars
as Eugene Shepherd
1943
6.3
Air Raid Wardens
as Joseph
1943
7.1
Stand by for Action
as Flag Lt. Dudley
1942
6.8
For Me and My Gal
as France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)
1942
6.4
Cairo
as Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited)
1942
5.8
The Affairs of Martha
as Mechanic (uncredited)
1942
6.2
Maisie Gets Her Man
as Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)
1942
6.5
Pacific Rendezvous
as Jasper Dean
1942
6.0
Tarzan's New York Adventure
as Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
1942
6.3
Grand Central Murder
as Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)
1942
5.7
Fingers at the Window
as Devlan
1942
5.5
Ship Ahoy
as Agent Flammer
1942
5.9
The Lady or the Tiger?
as Frank R. Stockton
1942
0.0
Nazi Agent
as Ludwig
1942
6.6
Woman of the Year
as Ellis
1942
6.9
Joe Smith, American
as Eddie
1942
5.8
Two-Faced Woman
as Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
1941
6.4
The Corsican Brothers
as One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)
1941
6.9
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Intern Fenwick
1941
6.5
Whistling in the Dark
as Robert Graves
1941
5.8
Down in San Diego
as Matt Herman
1941
5.5
The Big Store
as Fred Sutton
1941
6.2
Love Crazy
as Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
1941
6.7
I'll Wait for You
as Driver
1941
6.8
Men of the Timberland
as Cafe Patron (uncredited)
1941
0.0
1-2-3-Go!
as Taxi Driver
1941
6.5
The Wild Man of Borneo
as Actor in Film Scene (uncredited)
1941
6.5
Flight Command
as Lieut. Freddy Townsend
1940
5.6
Gallant Sons
as Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
1940
7.2
Sky Murder
as Gus
1940
6.3
Wyoming
as Sgt. Reynolds
1940
5.9
Boom Town
as Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
1940
6.9
I Love You Again
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1940
7.2
Sporting Blood
as Ted Milner
1940
3.5
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
as Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)
1940
5.4
New Moon
as Pierre
1940
6.5
The Mortal Storm
as Nazi Clerk
1940
7.3
Phantom Raiders
as Sailor
1940
6.1
Florian
as Sergeant
1940
1.0
Broadway Melody of 1940
as Harmon (uncredited)
1940
6.7
Pound Foolish
as Marshall-Agent in Antwerp
1940
7.0
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
as Bates - Intern (uncredited)
1939
5.6
Another Thin Man
as State Trooper (uncredited)
1939
7.1
Fast and Furious
as Radio Announcer (uncredited)
1939
4.7
Miracles for Sale
as Spectator in Theatre Box
1939
6.4
It's a Wonderful World
as Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)
1939
6.4
The Hardys Ride High
as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1939
5.8
Broadway Serenade
as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
1939
6.2
The Story of Dr. Jenner
as Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)
1939
0.0
Within the Law
as Green's Clerk
1939
6.0
The Ice Follies of 1939
as Assistant Doorman (uncredited)
1939
5.6
Four Girls in White
as Doctor at Accident
1939
6.3
Stand Up and Fight
as Lewis, Arnold's Henchman
1939
5.8
The Mad Miss Manton
as Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)
1938
6.3
When Love Is Young
as Norman Crocker
1937
0.0
Crash Donovan
as Tony
1936
0.0
Women Are Trouble
as Reporter
1936
6.0
Fury
as Governor's Aide (uncredited)
1936
7.4
Speed
as Intern Attending Terry
1936
5.5
The Perfect Set-Up
as MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)
1936
6.0
Exclusive Story
as Kent (uncredited)
1936
6.5
A Thrill for Thelma
as MGM Reporter
1935
5.8
She Couldn't Take It
as Cesar
1935
4.5
Murder in the Fleet
as Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)
1935
5.0
The Band Plays On
as Rosy Rosenberg
1934
8.5
🎬
My Grandfather's Clock
as Ronny Belvedere
1934
7.0
The Spectacle Maker
as The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle
1934
5.6